Docking sleeve with electrical adapter

ABSTRACT

A docking sleeve having an elastomeric protective cover, or skin, adapted for partially enveloping a portable electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet or another portable electronic device of the prior art having a port for a docking connector. The protective cover is a sheath molded of a suitable elastic or flexibly resilient elastomer in a size and shape to fit over and closely conform to the particular portable electronic device so that the cover fits the device like a surgical glove. An adapter is provided for electrically connecting to the female input/output socket of the particular electronic device, including a male plug having a plurality of electrical connectors extended internally of the sheath and arranged for mating with the female input/output socket of the device, and a plurality of contacts electrically coupled to different ones of the plurality of electrical connectors and exposed externally of the sheath.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/943,986, filed Feb. 24, 2014 which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cover for protecting a portableelectronic device, and in particular to a flexible cover having anelectrical adapter for coupling the device to a docking station.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective covers, or ‘skins’, are generally well-known for protecting aportable electronic device, such as a smartphone, or tablet or anotherportable electronic device. Such skins are typically somewhat flexiblewhich allows them to be wrapped around to partially envelop a device.

However, known protective covers, or ‘skins’, are limited in theirability to provide efficient and reliable usage of such portableelectronic devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a cover for protecting a portable electronicdevice that overcomes limitations of the prior art for efficient andreliable usage of such portable electronic devices.

Known protective covers, or ‘skins’, are generally simply shellcoverings that are somewhat flexible which allows them to be fittedaround a device to partially envelop it. These skins are useful only forprotecting the device. Until the present invention, there has notexisted a skin that provides an integral electrical adapter that allowsthe device to be easily docked into a cradle to provide pass-throughpower and other external wired functions such as audio, usb, etc.

A problem with smartphones, tablets and some other portable electronicdevices is they do not include a built-in docking connector as do ruggedlaptop computers. Typically smartphones and tablets have femaleinput/output (I/O) sockets that allow for mating of specific electricalcables with appropriate plugs, but are not designed for docking into thedocking connector of a docking cradle.

The present invention is a novel low cost flexible cover or skin thatincludes a structurally integral electrical adapter that mates with theI/O socket of the target device, and also includes contacts that easilymate with typical docking cradles.

According to one aspect of the invention, the protective cover includesa flexible protective shell that is complimentary in shape to the targetelectronic device, wherein the shell at least partially covers sidefaces and one front or back face of the device and extends around aperipheral edge of the opposite face.

Most docking cradles either use some sort of biasing pogo pin or biasingleaf spring contact in the docking connector. Therefore, the protectivecover of the invention includes an electrical adapter that isstructurally integral with the shell and positioned adjacent to thefemale input/output socket of the electronic device, wherein the adapteris formed with a male plug that is projected interior of the shell in anarrangement for mating with the female input/output socket of thedevice, and a contactor formed with a plurality of contacts that areelectrically coupled to the plug and exposed to an exterior of the shellin a position for mating with the docking connector when the device isdocked into the cradle while remaining in the protective cover.

Other aspects of the invention are detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of thisinvention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 each illustrate the same invention embodied by exampleand without limitation as a completely integral one-piece elastomericprotective cover, or skin, in situ as partially enveloping a targetportable electronic device, such as a smartphone or tablet or anotherportable electronic device of the prior art having a port for a dockingconnector;

FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 describe by example and without limitation adocking cradle of a type useful with the protective cover of theinvention;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are different views that each illustrate by exampleand without limitation the protective cover of FIG. 1 with the portabledevice removed for clarity;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section view of the protective cover of FIG. 1taken through an electrical adapter of the invention;

FIG. 9 illustrates the elastomeric protective cover of FIG. 1 in situ aspartially enveloping the target portable electronic device;

FIG. 10 illustrates a plurality of electrical connectors of a male plugof the electrical adapter being mechanically and electrically mated witha female input/output socket of the target electronic device when thetarget device is received within an interior cavity of the flexibleprotective shell of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 illustrates the target portable electronic device being receivedwithin the flexible protective shell of the protective cover of FIG. 1,and the protected target portable electronic device being subsequentlyinserted into the docking cradle;

FIG. 12 illustrates the flexible protective shell of the protectivecover of FIG. 1, wherein at least a flexible center panel of theprotective shell is an integral window panel formed of a substantiallyoptically transparent flexible membrane for use with a portableelectronic device having a pressure-sensitive touch screen;

FIG. 13 illustrates the portable electronic device being received withinthe flexible protective shell of the protective cover of FIG. 1, whereinthe touch-sensitive screen of the target electronic device is positionedin contact with the integral transparent window panel of the centerpanel as disclosed in FIG. 12, and the protected portable electronicdevice being subsequently inserted into the docking cradle with thetouch-sensitive screen facing outwardly away therefrom;

FIG. 14 is a close-up section view of the protective cover of FIG. 1 asillustrated in FIG. 12, wherein the protective shell is formed with theinterior transparent window panel for use with the portable electronicdevice having a touch-sensitive screen, which illustrates the male plugof the electrical adapter being interfaced with electrical contacts ofthe female I/O socket of the portable electronic device;

FIG. 15 illustrates the protective cover of FIG. 1 being formed with theinterior transparent window panel for use with the portable electronicdevice having a touch-sensitive screen as illustrated in FIG. 12,wherein the interior window panel is positioned for being juxtaposedwith the touch-sensitive screen of the portable electronic device, andwherein the mouth opening through the side skirt of the protective shellis positioned adjacent to one side thereof between the transparentwindow panel and an opposing panel of the protective shell;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram that illustrates the electrical adapter ofthe protective cover of FIG. 1 being configured as a pass-throughelectrical adapter having electrical couplings between sequentiallyordered pairs of the plurality of electrical connectors of its male plugand corresponding electrical contacts of its contactor;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram that illustrates an alternative embodimentwherein the electrical adapter of the protective cover of FIG. 1 isconfigured as a converting electrical adapter having electricalcouplings between non-sequentially ordered pairs of the plurality ofelectrical connectors of its male plug and corresponding electricalcontacts of its contactor;

FIG. 18 illustrates the electrical adapter of the protective cover ofFIG. 1 having the converting adapter configured as its male plug andcontactor separated into two individual adapter plug and contactorbodies which are located in different areas of the protective shell; and

FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 are cross-section views of the protective cover ofFIG. 1, wherein each of FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 illustrate the individualplug and contactor bodies of the electrical adapter are interconnectedin the protective shell of the protective cover, for example byelongated electrical cables, wires or other electrical conductors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As required, a detailed illustrative embodiment of the presentprotective enclosure is disclosed herein. However, techniques, systemsand operating structures in accordance with the present protectiveenclosure may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some ofwhich may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment.Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosedherein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed toafford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure and to provide abasis for the claims herein which define the scope of the presentprotective enclosure. The following presents a detailed description ofan illustrative embodiment (as well as some alternative embodiments) ofthe present protective enclosure.

In the Figures, like numerals indicate like elements.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate the completely integral one-piece opticallytransparent elastomeric protective cover, or skin, 100 of the presentinvention in situ as partially enveloping the portable electronic device1 such as a smartphone or tablet or another portable electronic deviceof the prior art having a port for a docking connector 3. Cover 100 ofthe present invention is a sheath molded of a suitable elastic orflexibly resilient elastomer, such as vinyl, in a size and shape to fitover and closely conform to the smartphone, tablet or other portableelectronic device 1 so that the cover 100 fits the device 1 like asurgical glove.

A smartphone, or smart phone, is a mobile phone with more advancedcomputing capability and connectivity than basic feature phones. Earlysmartphones typically combined the features of a mobile phone with thoseof another popular consumer device, such as a personal digital assistant(PDA), a media player, a digital camera, and/or a GPS navigation unit.Modern smartphones include all of those features plus usually includethe additional features of a touch-screen computer, including webbrowsing, Wi-Fi, and 3rd-party apps and accessories. The most popularsmartphones today are powered by Google's Android and Apple's iOS mobileoperating systems. See, e.g., Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

A tablet computer, or simply tablet, is a mobile computer with display,circuitry and battery in a single unit. Tablets are equipped withsensors, including cameras, microphone, accelerometer and touch-screen,with finger or stylus gestures replacing computer mouse and keyboard.Tablets may include physical buttons, e.g., to control basic featuressuch as speaker volume and power and ports for network communicationsand to charge the battery. An on-screen, pop-up virtual keyboard isusually used for typing. Tablets are typically larger than smart phonesor personal digital assistants at 7 inches (18 cm) or larger, measureddiagonally. One example of a tablet is the iPad (1st generation) tabletcomputer from Apple. See, e.g., Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Hybrid tablets having detachable keyboards have been sold since themid-1990s. Convertible touch-screen notebook computers have anintegrated keyboard that can be hidden by a swivel or slide joint.Booklet tablets have dual-touch-screens and can be used as a notebook bydisplaying a virtual keyboard on one of the displays. See, e.g.,Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

As disclosed herein, an electrical adapter is part of protective cover100, the adapter includes a male plug having a plurality of electricalconnectors extending into a cavity formed by protective cover 100 in anarrangement for mating with a female input/output socket of thesmartphone or tablet or other portable electronic device 1, and acontactor having a plurality of electrical contacts that are positionedadjacent to an exterior of protective cover 100 and are electricallycoupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug.

Accordingly, when the electronic device 1 is received within the cavityof flexible protective cover 100, the plurality of connectors of themale plug are mated with the female socket of the device 1. Thereafter,the female input/output socket is electrically accessed through theplurality of contacts of the contactor that are exterior of protectivecover 100.

Protective cover 100, with the electronic device 1 installed therein, isthen inserted into a docking cradle 5 which includes docking connector 3having its own plurality of contacts. The docking connector is joined tothe contactor of the electrical adapter with one or more of theplurality of contacts of the docking connector being electricallycoupled with contacts of the contactor. Accordingly, the input/outputsocket of the electronic device 1 is electrically accessed through thedocking connector of the docking cradle 5 via the electrical adapter ofprotective cover 100.

FIG. 3, FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 describe by example and without limitation adocking cradle 5 of a type useful with protective cover 100. Forexample, docking cradle 5 has a tray 7 with a base receiver 9 sized toreceive a specific smartphone, tablet or other portable electronicdevice 1 already protected within the cover 100. Docking connector 3 isprovided in the docking cradle 5, often in the middle of base receiver 9of tray 7. The docking connector 3 may be specific to a particularportable electronic device 1, or may be generic to a type of device 1.Docking connector 3 includes a plurality of biasing electrical contacts11, typically biasing pogo pins or biasing leaf spring contacts.Electrical contacts 11 are coupled to leads 13 in an electrical wire orcable 15 coupled to docking cradle 5.

Docking connector 3 may also include optional guide pins 17 adapted formating with mating guide pin receivers in the contactor of theelectrical adapter, as disclosed herein.

Docking cradle 5 optionally includes a clamp 19 adapted for capturingthe specific portable electronic device 1 within base receiver 9 of tray7. Clamp 19 also has a compression component, i.e. arm 21 that operatesto compress the electrical contacts of the contactor on the exterior ofprotective cover 100 into contact with electrical contacts 11 of dockingconnector 3.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate the protective cover 100 of the inventionwith the portable electronic device 1 removed for clarity. Protectivecover 100 is complimentary in shape to portable electronic device 1.Protective cover 100 is shown being formed of a flexible unitaryprotective shell 102 having a flexible center panel 104 surrounded by anintegral flexible side skirt 106. Panel 104 and skirt 106 combine toform an interior cavity 108 therebetween that is sized to at leastpartially cover the side faces and one of the front and back faces ofportable electronic device 1, and to further extend around a peripheraledge of an opposite one of the front and back faces of portableelectronic device 1. A continuous integral lip 110 extends inward ofside skirt 106 and forms a mouth opening 112 that communicates withcavity 108. Mouth opening 112 is sized to receive electronic device 1therethrough into cavity 108.

Protective cover 100 includes an adapter 114 that is fixedly positionedin side skirt 106. For example, adapter 114 is either over molded,bonded or fastened through side skirt 106. Adapter 114 is formed of amale plug 116 having a plurality of electrical connectors 118 thatextend into cavity 108 of shell 102 in an arrangement for mating with afemale input/output socket of the portable electronic device 1. Adapter114 also includes a contactor 120 having a plurality of electricalcontacts 122 that are spaced away from male plug 116 at an opposite endof adapter 114. Adapter 114 is extended through protective shell 102,for example, through either center panel 104 or side skirt 106 (shown).Thus, while male plug 116 is extended into cavity 108 of shell 102,contactor 120 and its contacts 122 are positioned adjacent to anexterior 124 of shell 102, whereby plurality of electrical contacts areexposed for connection to electrical contacts 11 of docking connector 3.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section view of protective cover 100 takenthrough electrical adapter 114. As illustrated here, electrical contacts122 of contactor 120 are electrically coupled to one or more ofelectrical connectors 118 of plug 116 via electrical cables, wires,traces or other electrical conductors 126 (one shown) embedded in a body128 of adapter 114. Contactor 120 of adapter 114 is optionally formedwith one or more guide pin receivers 130 sized and positioned to matewith optional guide pins 17, if present, of docking connector 3.

Optionally, contactor 120 of adapter 114 is further recessed in outersurface 124 of unitary protective shell 102. By example and withoutlimitation, an optional dam 132 is formed in outer surface 124 ofunitary protective shell 102, and adapter contactor 120 is furtherrecessed within dam 132. Electrical contacts 122 of contactor 120 areprotected from damage by being recessed within dam 132 or otherwisewithin outer surface 124 of unitary protective shell 102.

FIG. 9 illustrates the elastomeric protective cover 100 of the presentinvention in situ as partially enveloping the portable electronic device1. Here, portable electronic device 1 is received within cavity 108 offlexible protective shell 102 through mouth opening 112 thatcommunicates with cavity 108. Electronic device 1 is inserted intoflexible protective shell 102 through mouth opening 112 in continuousintegral lip 110 through side skirt 106 that communicates with cavity108. One of either a front face 23 (shown) or a back face of electronicdevice 1 is exposed in mouth opening 112. Here, a touch-sensitive screenor other display 25 of portable electronic device 1 is exposed in mouthopening 112 for easy operation by user.

FIG. 10 illustrates plurality of electrical connectors 118 of male plug116 are mechanically and electrically mated with the female input/outputsocket 27 of device 1 when portable electronic device 1 is receivedwithin cavity 108 of flexible protective shell 102, as illustrated inFIG. 9. Accordingly, mating of male plug 116 with female input/outputsocket 27 creates access to power, sensor and/or other function ofportable electronic device 1 from outside surface 124 of unitaryprotective shell 102.

FIG. 11 illustrates portable electronic device 1 being received withinflexible protective shell 102 of protective cover 100, and protectivecover 100 with portable electronic device 1 therein being subsequentlyinserted into docking cradle 5. Docking connector 3 of docking cradle 5is joined to contactor 120 of electrical adapter 114 with one or more ofplurality of biasing electrical contacts 11 of docking connector 3 beingelectrically coupled with electrical contacts 122 of adapter contactor120. Accordingly, portable electronic device 1 is accessed by dockingcradle 5 without being first removed from protective cover or ‘skin’ 100as required with prior art protective covers. Compression of clamp 19,when present, aids in maintaining electrical coupling between electricalcontacts 122 of adapter contactor 120 and biasing electrical contacts 11of docking connector 3.

FIG. 12 illustrates protective cover 100 reversed on electronic device 1with center panel 104 adjacent to the face of device 1 having display25. Protective shell 102 is formed with mouth opening 112 thatcommunicates with cavity 108 positioned substantially opposite fromcenter panel 104. Continuous integral lip 110 extends inward of sideskirt 106 and forms mouth opening 112.

Here, an interior window opening 134 is formed in flexible center panel104 of flexible protective shell 102 opposite from mouth opening 112 andin a position over touch-sensitive screen display 25 of portableelectronic device 1 for operation of electronic device 1.

Center panel 104 of protective shell 102 is formed with interior windowopening 134 that communicates with cavity 108. Interior window opening134 is positioned and sized to reveal therethrough pressure-sensitivetouch screen 25 of a portable electronic device 1 residing in cavity108. A continuous integral lip 136 extends around periphery of centerpanel 104 inward of side skirt 106 and forms interior window opening134.

An integral interior window panel 138 is positioned in flexible centerpanel 104 within window opening 134, and is retained in protective shell102 by continuous integral lip 136 surrounding opening 134. For example,as more clearly illustrated in FIG. 14, a peripheral edge 140 ofinterior window panel 138 is welded, adhered, bonded or otherwise joinedto integral lip 136 of window opening 134. Optionally, an substantiallywatertight joint 142 is formed between interior window panel 138 andintegral lip 136 of window opening 134. According to one embodiment,interior window panel 138 is overmolded into integral lip 136 of windowopening 134 for joining to integral lip 136 and forming watertight joint142 therebetween.

Integral interior window panel 138 is formed of a substantiallyoptically transparent membrane for use with portable electronic device 1having a pressure-sensitive touch screen 25, whereby operation ofelectronic device 1 via touch-sensitive screen 25 is accomplishedthrough intervening window panel 138.

Optionally, interior window panel 138 is formed of a hard, inelastic andnoncompressible material. For example, the plastic sheet componentforming interior window panel 138 is optionally a noncompressible sheetof relatively hard and substantially visually transparent material,including but not limited to polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or anothersuitable substantially visually transparent material. According to oneembodiment, the plastic sheet component forming interior window panel138 is optionally a noncompressible sheet of relatively hard andsubstantially visually transparent polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material. Asdisclosed herein, interior window panel 138 formed of PET or PVC orother hard, noncompressible and inelastic plastic sheet materialsimilarly permits tactile stimulation of the touch-sensitive screendisplay 25 of portable electronic device 1.

Alternatively, optionally either the entirety of protective shell 102,or only interior window panel 138, is formed of an optically transparentflexible elastomer membrane which is either clear, or may be tinted withcolor, such as pink or blue as may be aesthetically pleasing.Optionally, the optically transparent elastomer of protective shell 102or only interior window panel 138 is a dielectric material having staticdissipative properties, such as an effective dielectric constant on theorder of about 4.5. For example, the elastomer includes a quantity ofpowdered metal, mixed-metal oxides, polymers, or is coated with a staticdissipative coating. Optionally, the optically transparent elastomer ofprotective shell 102 or only interior window panel 138 is polarized toreduce glare. Accordingly, protective cover 100 is optionally utilizedwith portable electronic device 1 having a pressure-sensitive touchscreen that permits inputting data of and operating the device 1 byapplication of light pressure by the user, as is generally well-known.

Portable electronic device 1 is illustrated as being inserted throughsecond mouth opening 112 into cavity 108 of flexible protective shell102 with touch-sensitive screen 25 being positioned in contact withinterior window panel 138 of opposing center panel 104, whereby theflexibility of the elastomeric material permits application of pressureto touch-sensitive screen 25 for inputting data and operating theelectronic device 1 in general. As disclosed herein, interior windowpanel 138 of center panel 104 is structured as a thin flexible membranein a position that corresponds to touch-sensitive screen 25 of device 1.By example and without limitation, window area of flexible center panel104 is expected to be about 0.05 to 0.06 inch thick, or anotherthickness suitable for permitting touch-sensitive screen 25 to respondto pressure exerted by the user for inputting data and operating theelectronic device 1 in general. Integral interior window panel 138 ofcenter panel 104 covers pressure-sensitive touch screen 25 of electronicdevice 1 to protect it from scratching, denting, and other externalabrasions. Side skirt 106 and portions of protective shell 102surrounding interior window panel 138 of center panel 104 may be thickerfor providing protection from bumps and scrapes.

Male plug 116 of adapter 114 is inserted into female input/output socket27 of electronic device 1.

FIG. 13 illustrates portable electronic device 1 being received withinflexible protective shell 102 of protective cover 100 withtouch-sensitive screen 25 being positioned in contact with interiorwindow panel 138. Protective cover 100 with portable electronic device 1therein is subsequently inserted into docking cradle 5 withtouch-sensitive screen 25 facing outwardly away therefrom. Dockingconnector 3 of docking cradle 5 is joined to contactor 120 of electricaladapter 114 with one or more of plurality of biasing electrical contacts11 of docking connector 3 being electrically coupled with electricalcontacts 122 of adapter contactor 120. Accordingly, portable electronicdevice 1 is accessed by docking cradle 5 without being first removedfrom protective cover or ‘skin’ 100 as required with prior artprotective covers. When present, compression of clamp 19 aids inmaintaining electrical coupling between electrical contacts 122 ofadapter contactor 120 and biasing electrical contacts 11 of dockingconnector 3.

FIG. 14 is a close-up section view of protective cover 100 asillustrated in FIG. 12, wherein protective shell 102 is formed withinterior window panel 138. FIG. 14 illustrates male plug 116 ofelectrical adapter 114 being interfaced with plurality of electricalcontacts 29 of female input/output socket 27 of the portable electronicdevice 1.

FIG. 15 illustrates protective cover 100 being formed with interiortransparent window panel 138 in a position for being juxtaposed withtouch-sensitive screen 25 of portable electronic device 1. However,mouth opening 112 through side skirt 106 is positioned adjacent to oneside 144 of unitary protective shell 102 between interior window panel138 in center panel 104 and an opposing panel 146 of protective shell102. Here, mouth opening 112 is formed by continuous integral lip 110that extends inward of side skirt 106 at side 144 of protective shell102.

When mouth opening 112 is formed through side skirt 106 adjacent to oneside 144 of protective shell 102, electrical adapter 114 is positionedin side skirt 106 at a second side 148 opposite from side 144. Withmouth opening 112 and electrical adapter 114 thus located at oppositesides 144 and 148, respectively, of protective shell 102, male plug 116of electrical adapter 114 is extended into cavity 108 of shell 102 in aposition to be received into and mechanically and electrically matedwith the female input/output socket 27 of device 1 when portableelectronic device 1 is received within cavity 108 through side mouthopening 112. Accordingly, in practice portable electronic device 1 isinserted (arrow 150) into protective shell 102 through side mouthopening 112 and into interior cavity 108 until the female input/outputsocket 27 is mechanically mated with male plug 116 of electrical adapter114, whereupon female input/output socket 27 is simultaneouslyelectrically mated with electrical adapter 114. Portable electronicdevice 1 is removed from protective shell 102 in reverse order along theinsertion direction (arrow 150).

FIG. 16 is a block diagram that illustrates adapter 114 being furtherconfigured as a pass-through adapter having electrical couplings betweensequentially ordered pairs of the plurality of electrical connectors 118of male plug 116 and corresponding electrical contacts 122 of contactor120. Here, wires or other electrical conductors 126 embedded in body 128of adapter 114 communicate in direct sequential relationship betweenelectrical connectors 118 of male plug 116 and corresponding electricalcontacts 122 of contactor 120. When adapter 114 is configured as apass-through adapter, and portable electronic device 1 (shown inphantom) is received into protective cover 100 and the two received intodocking cradle 5 (shown in phantom), as shown, input/output signals on aplurality of electrical contacts 29 of female socket 27 of the portableelectronic device 1 are presented to electrical contacts 11 of dockingconnector 3 in the same order as presented on electrical contacts 29 offemale input/output socket 27 of portable electronic device 1.Accordingly, electrical contacts 11 of docking connector 3 must beordered correspondingly to electrical contacts 29 of input/output socket27 of electronic device 1. Any desired reordering of input/outputsignals on electrical contacts 29 of female socket 27 of the electronicdevice 1 must occur in docking connector 3 of docking cradle 5,elsewhere downstream of docking connector 3.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram that illustrates an alternative embodimentwherein adapter 114 is instead further configured as a convertingadapter having electrical couplings between non-sequentially orderedpairs of the plurality of electrical connectors 118 of male plug 116 andcorresponding electrical contacts 122 of contactor 120. Here, wires,traces or other electrical conductors 126 embedded in body 128 ofadapter 114 communicate in non-sequential relationship betweenelectrical connectors 118 of male plug 116 and electrical contacts 122of contactor 120. When adapter 114 is configured as a convertingadapter, and portable electronic device 1 (shown in phantom) is receivedinto protective cover 100 and the two received into docking cradle 5(shown in phantom), as shown, input/output signals on the plurality ofelectrical contacts 29 of female socket 27 of the portable electronicdevice 1 are presented to electrical contacts 11 of docking connector 3in any desired order, in contrast to only the order presented onelectrical contacts 29 of female input/output socket 27 of portableelectronic device 1 as in the pass-through configuration of adapter 114shown in FIG. 14. Electrical contacts 11 of docking connector 3 are thusordered correspondingly to a predetermined input/output sequence onleads 13 in electrical cable 15 of docking cradle 5. Accordingly,input/output signals on electrical contacts 29 of female socket 27 ofthe electronic device 1 are reordered in any desired sequence to matchdocking connector 3, whereby downstream reordering of input/outputsignals on electrical contacts 29 of female socket 27 of the electronicdevice 1 in docking connector 3 is not required to match the specificelectronic device 1 received in docking cradle 5. Instead, dockingconnector 3 operates as a universal docking connector for cooperatingwith any device 1 inserted into docking cradle 5 when converting adapter114 is matched to the portable electronic device 1. Accordingly, dockingcradle 5 can be provided with a single generic or universal dockingconnector 3 and still be utilized with a variety of different ones ofthe portable electronic device 1 by simply coordinating the order ofcoupling relationships between electrical connectors 118 of male plug116 and electrical contacts 122 of contactor 120 within electricaladapter 114 by routing of wires, electrical traces or other electricalconductors 126 embedded in a body 128 of adapter 114.

FIG. 18 illustrates converting adapter 114 configured as having maleplug 116 and contactor 120 separated into two individual adapter plugbody 128 a and contactor body 128 b which are located in different areasof protective shell 102. Individual adapter plug body 128 a of male plug116 and contactor body 128 b of contactor 120 are fixedly positioned inside skirt 106 of protective shell 102. Here for example, individualadapter plug and contactor bodies 128 a, 128 b are optionally embeddedand overmolded in protective shell 102. By example and withoutlimitation, male plug 116 is optionally embedded in skirt 106 adjacentto one side 102 a of protective shell 102, while contactor 120 isoptionally embedded in skirt 106 in a position spaced apart from maleplug 116. For example, contactor 120 is optionally embedded in skirt 106spaced apart from male plug 116 and adjacent to one side 102 b ofprotective shell 102.

Optionally, contactor body 128 b of adapter contactor 120 is recessed inouter surface 124 of unitary protective shell 102. By example andwithout limitation, optional dam 132 is formed in outer surface 124 ofunitary protective shell 102, and adapter contactor 120 is furtherrecessed within dam 132. Electrical contacts 122 of contactor 120 areprotected from damage by being recessed within dam 132 or otherwisewithin outer surface 124 of unitary protective shell 102.

FIG. 19 and FIG. 20 illustrate individual adapter plug body 128 a ofmale plug 116 and contactor body 128 b of contactor 120 areinterconnected in protective shell 102 by extended wires, traces orother electrical conductors 126. For example, plurality of electricalconductors 126 are formed as elongated electrical cables, wires or otherelectrical conductors (three shown) that are extended for electricallyinterconnecting plurality of electrical connectors 118 of male adapterplug 116 with corresponding plurality of electrical contacts 122 ofadapter contactor 120. Electrical conductors 126 are fixedly positionedin protective shell 102. For example, electrical conductors 126 areoptionally embedded and overmolded in side skirt 106 of protective shell102. Alternatively, electrical conductors 126 are optionally adhered toa surface of protective shell 102, either an interior or an exteriorsurface.

Optionally, side 102 a and/or side 102 b of protective shell 102 areoptionally adapted to receive plurality of electrical conductors 126within skirt 106 of protective shell 102. For example, portions of side102 a and/or side 102 b of protective shell 102 are optionally thickenedto accommodate volume of plurality of electrical conductors 126 withinskirt 106.

While the preferred and additional alternative embodiments of theinvention have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciatedthat various changes can be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it will be appreciatedthat various changes can be made therein without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the inventor makes thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective cover for an electronic device, thecover comprising: a single-piece flexible protective shell comprising apanel and a skirt surrounding the panel, wherein the panel and skirtform a cavity therebetween, and the skirt forming a mouth opening thatcommunicates with the cavity, wherein the shell is configured andarranged to at least partially cover one of a back or front face of theelectronic device, at least partially cover each side face of theelectronic device, and extend around a peripheral edge of another one ofthe front or back faces of the electronic device to secure theelectronic device within the shell; and an adapter fixedly positioned inthe shell, the adapter comprising a male plug comprising a plurality ofconnectors extending into the cavity of the shell in an arrangement formating with a female socket of the device, and a contactor comprising aplurality of contacts adjacent to an exterior of the shell andelectrically coupled to one or more of the connectors of the plug. 2.The cover of claim 1, wherein the adapter is further fixedly positionedin the skirt of the shell.
 3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the femalesocket of the device further comprises a female power and sensor socket;and wherein the male plug is further configured to mate with the femalepower and sensor socket of the device.
 4. The cover of claim 1, whereinthe plurality of contacts of the contactor are further arranged tocouple with a connector of a docking station.
 5. The cover of claim 4,wherein the connector of a docking station is further configured as adocking connector having a plurality of pins arranged therein; andwherein the plurality of contacts of the contactor are further arrangedto couple with the pin arrangement of the docking connector.
 6. Thecover of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises an adapter bodythat is fixedly positioned in the shell, the adapter body furthercomprising both the male plug and the contactor.
 7. The cover of claim1, wherein the adapter further comprises an individual male plug and anindividual contactor separated therefrom and electrically interconnectedtherewith.
 8. The cover of claim 7, wherein the adapter furthercomprises one or more electrical conductors between the individual maleplug and the individual contactor separated therefrom and electricallyinterconnecting at least one of the plurality of contacts of thecontactor with a corresponding one of the connectors of the plug.
 9. Thecover of claim 8, wherein the one or more electrical conductors arefurther fixedly positioned in the shell.
 10. The cover of claim 1,wherein the adapter is further configured as a pass-through adapterhaving electrical couplings between sequentially ordered pairs of theconnectors of the male plug and corresponding contacts of the contactor.11. The cover of claim 1, wherein the adapter is further configured as aconverting adapter having electrical couplings between non-sequentiallyordered pairs of the connectors of the male plug and contacts of thecontactor.
 12. The cover of claim 1, wherein the contactor of theadapter is further recessed in an outer surface of the shell.
 13. Thecover of claim 1, further comprising the electronic device beingreceived within the cavity of the flexible protective shell through themouth opening, and the plurality of connectors of the male plug beingmated with the female socket of the device.
 14. The cover of claim 1,wherein the mouth opening is further positioned substantially oppositelyof the panel.
 15. The cover of claim 1, wherein the panel furthercomprises an integral window formed of a substantially opticallytransparent flexible membrane.
 16. The cover of claim 15, furthercomprising the electronic device being received within the cavity of theflexible protective shell through the mouth opening with atouch-sensitive screen of the device being in contact with the membraneof the integral window, and the plurality of connectors of the male plugbeing mated with the female socket of the device.
 17. The cover of claim15, wherein the flexible protective shell further comprises a secondpanel substantially opposite of the panel comprising the integral windowand spaced away therefrom with the cavity arranged therebetween, and theskirt surrounding the second panel; and wherein the mouth opening isformed by the skirt between the panel comprising the integral window andthe second panel opposite thereof.
 18. The cover of claim 17, whereinthe adapter is further fixedly positioned in the skirt of the shellsubstantially oppositely of the mouth opening.
 19. A protective coverfor an electronic device having a case formed of spaced apart front andback faces with side faces extended therebetween and a femaleinput/output socket in one of the side faces, the cover comprising: asingle-piece flexible protective shell, said shell being complimentaryin shape to said electronic device, the shell at least partiallycovering each of the side faces of the electronic device and one of thefront or back faces of the electronic device and extending around aperipheral edge of an opposite one of the front or back faces of theelectronic device to secure the electronic device within the shell; andan electrical adapter structurally integral with the shell adjacent tothe female input/output socket of the electronic device, the adaptercomprising a male plug projected into an interior of the shell in anarrangement for mating with the female input/output socket of thedevice, and a contactor comprising a plurality of contacts electricallycoupled to the plug and exposed to an exterior of the shell.
 20. Thecover of claim 19, wherein the female input/output socket of the devicefurther comprises a female power and sensor socket; and wherein the maleplug further comprises a plurality of electrical connectors configuredto mate with the female power and sensor socket of the device.
 21. Thecover of claim 19, wherein the male plug further comprises a pluralityof connectors extending into the interior of the shell.
 22. The cover ofclaim 19, wherein the plurality of contacts of the contactor are furtherelectrically coupled in sequentially ordered relationship withcorresponding connectors of the male plug.
 23. The cover of claim 19,wherein the plurality of contacts of the contactor are furtherelectrically coupled in non-sequentially ordered relationship withcorresponding connectors of the male plug.
 24. The cover of claim 19,wherein the electrical adapter further comprises an adapter body that isstructurally integral with the shell, the adapter body furthercomprising both the male plug and the contactor.
 25. The cover of claim20, wherein the male plug and the contactor of the electrical adapterare further spaced apart and electrically interconnected in the shell.26. The cover of claim 25, wherein the electrical adapter furthercomprises an electrical conductor between the male plug and thecontactor separated therefrom, the electrical conductor electricallyinterconnecting one of the connectors of the plug with a correspondingone of the plurality of contacts of the contactor.
 27. The cover ofclaim 26, wherein the electrical conductor is further structurallyintegral with the shell.
 28. The cover of claim 19, further comprising adam formed in an outer surface of the shell, and wherein the contactorof the adapter is further recessed within the dam.
 29. The cover ofclaim 19, wherein the shell further comprises an integral window formedof a substantially optically transparent flexible membrane.
 30. Thecover of claim 29, wherein the front face of said electronic devicefurther comprises a touch-sensitive display screen, and wherein theintegral window is further arranged in the shell in a position for atleast partially covering the front face of said electronic device. 31.The cover of claim 30, wherein the shell further comprises a mouthopening adapted for receiving said electronic device into the shell, andwherein the integral window is further arranged in the shell in aposition substantially oppositely of the mouth opening.
 32. The cover ofclaim 30, wherein the shell further comprises a mouth opening adaptedfor receiving said electronic device into the shell, and wherein themouth opening is further arranged in the shell in a positionsubstantially oppositely of the male plug of the electrical adapter. 33.The cover of claim 19, further comprising the electronic device beinginserted into the flexible protective shell through an opening thereintowith the peripheral edge of one of the front and back faces beingexposed in the opening, and the adapter male plug being mated with thefemale input/output socket thereof.
 34. The cover of claim 33, furthercomprising the protective shell being inserted into a docking cradlehaving a docking connector with a plurality of contacts, wherein thedocking connector is joined to the contactor of the electrical adapterwith one or more of the plurality of contacts of the docking connectorbeing electrically coupled with contacts of the contactor.
 35. Aprotective cover for an electronic device having a female input/outputsocket, the cover comprising: a single sheet of substantially flexibleelastomer formed into a unitary cover having a center panel and integralside skirts surrounding the center panel, and a continuous integral lipextending inward of the skirts and forming a mouth opening, wherein theunitary cover is configured and arranged to at least partially cover oneof a back or front face of the electronic device, at least partiallycover each side face of the electronic device, and extend around aperipheral edge of another one of the front or back faces of theelectronic device to secure the electronic device within the unitarycover; a cavity formed by the center panel, integral side skirts andintegral lip; and an adapter means for electrically connecting to thefemale input/output socket of the electronic device, the adapter meanscomprising a male plug comprising a plurality of electrical connectorsextended into the cavity of the shell and arranged for mating with thefemale input/output socket of the device, and a plurality of contactselectrically coupled to different ones of the plurality of electricalconnectors and exposed to an exterior of the cover.
 36. The cover ofclaim 35, wherein the adapter means further comprises an adapter bodythat is structurally integral with the unitary cover, the adapter bodyfurther comprising both the plurality of electrical connectors of themale plug and the plurality of contacts.
 37. The cover of claim 35,wherein the male plug and the plurality of contacts of the adapter meansare further spaced apart in the unitary cover.
 38. The cover of claim37, wherein the adapter means further comprises one or more electricalconductors being electrically interconnected between the plurality ofelectrical connectors of the male plug and corresponding ones of theplurality of contacts.
 39. The cover of claim 38, wherein the one ormore electrical conductors are further is further structurally integralwith the unitary cover.
 40. The cover of claim 35, wherein the pluralityof contacts are further coupled in sequentially ordered relationshipwith corresponding electrical connectors of the male plug.
 41. The coverof claim 35, wherein the plurality of contacts are further coupled innon-sequentially ordered relationship with corresponding electricalconnectors of the male plug.
 42. The cover of claim 35, furthercomprising an integral dam formed in the cover, and wherein theplurality of contacts are further recessed within the dam.
 43. The coverof claim 35, further comprising the electronic device being insertedthrough the mouth opening into the cavity with a portion of the devicebeing exposed in the opening, and the male plug of the adapter meansbeing inserted into the female input/output socket of the electronicdevice.
 44. The cover of claim 35, wherein the center panel of the shellfurther comprises a window formed of a substantially opticallytransparent flexible membrane.
 45. The cover of claim 44, furthercomprising the electronic device being inserted through the mouthopening into the cavity with a touch-sensitive screen of the devicebeing positioned in contact with the window, and the male plug of theadapter means being inserted into the female input/output socket of theelectronic device.
 46. The cover of claim 44, wherein the center panelof the shell comprising the window is further positioned substantiallyoppositely of the mouth opening.
 47. The cover of claim 44, wherein theunitary cover further comprises a second center panel substantiallyopposite of the panel comprising the window and spaced therefrom withthe cavity arranged therebetween, and the skirt surrounding the secondpanel; and wherein the continuous integral lip forming the mouth openingis formed in the skirt between the panel comprising the integral windowand the second panel opposite thereof.
 48. The cover of claim 47,wherein the adapter is further fixedly positioned in the skirt of theshell substantially oppositely of the mouth opening.